Metal tongue for vehicles.



WILLIAM II. SOHOFIELD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METAL TONGU FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,951, dated April 15, 1902.

Application filed December 26,1901. Serial No. 87,153. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it' may concern:

Be it kn own that LWILLIAM H. SCHOFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Tongues for Wagons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in wagon-tongues; and the especial objects of the improvements are the production of a wagon-tongue entirely from metal in which few and simple forms are required and when complete that will be strong, comparatively light, and that will have no sharp edges to strike against and injure the horses working alongside of the tongue.

A further object is to provide tonguehounds which will possess the advantages above mentioned and that will afford a strong and effective brace for the tongue.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure l embraces a top plan view and a side elevation Vof a metal tongue for wagons made in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view showin g the tongue-hounds and the method of connecting same with the tongue. Figs. 3 to 8, inclusive, are enlarged cross-sections on the respective planes x y y, .e e, o fu, w w, and ttof Fig. l; and Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the tongue proper, which is of the usual contour, is composed of two complementary sections A A', each of which is formed of a metal T-bar, the flanges a of which for approximately two-thirds of their length are bent inwardly on a curve and for the other third are left horizontal, as shown in Figs. 3 and et. These sections are securedA together in part by dat metal plates B, B', and B2, placed at equidistant points along the rear half of the tongue, suitable rivets passing through said plates and the webs of the sections. In applying these plates to the sections the latter are spaced apart, with a gradually decreasing space therebetween, widest at the rear end of the tongue and narrowing down until at the front end the ianges of the opposed sections meet. At the front end of the tongue the sections are bound together by a thi mble C, which fits closely over the same and, if desired, may be secured positively thereto in any desirable manner. The thimble is formed with a holding-ring c at its forward end and on its under side is provided with a shoulder c2 for the usual neckyoke. (Not shown.)

It will be seen that by securing together the sections in the m-anner described I produce a tapering form of tongue conforming to the usual lines of wooden-tongue construction and at the same time secure lightness and a certain amount of resiliency.

The tongue-hounds F F are formed from channel or an gle irons bent to the form shown and placed with their flanges turned inwardly or toward the tongue. The front ends of the hounds are bolted or riveted to the flanges of the T- bars forming the tongue-sections, and their rear portions are secured by long bolts D D', which pass through suitable openings in the web of the hound-irons and in the flanges of the T-bars and are supplied with the usual nuts. Over the bolt D on each side of the tongue is placed a sleeve E, formed from metal pipe, which serves as a spreader for the hounds at this point. By lengthening the bolts D D' they may serve to connect the wagon-hounds with the tongue-hounds.

In coupling myimproved tongue to a wagon it is positioned with the openings between the sections or T-bars at the top and bottom, thus bringing the curved iianges at the side and next to the horses.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-A l. A wagon-tongue composed of two metal T-bars secured together, and having their side flanges curved inwardly for a portion of their length, and straight or normal for the rest of their length, said straight portion being at the rear end of the tongue.

2. A Wagon-tongue composed of two metal T-bars secured together, and having their side anges extending normally at the rear portion of the tongue, and gradually merging IOO into curved fianges, the latter occupying the rest of the tongue, substantially as set forth.

3. A wagon-tongue composed of two metal T-bars secured together with gradually-vary ing space therebetween, the greatest space being toward the rear portion of the tongue, whereby the tongue is given a tapering eontour, the anges of said bars being curved inwardly for a portion of their length, and left normal for the rest of their length, the` radii of said curved portions gradually increasing from the front end of the tongue toward the rear portion, substantially in the manner shown. t

4. As a new article of manufacture,a wagontongue formed of two complementary metal bars, secured together with a space therebetween for a portion of their length, and forming, when joined, a metal tongue having its rear portion rectangular in cross-section, and its forward portion rounded and tapering substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM SCHOFIELD.

Witnesses:

F. BENJAMIN, WILToN B. JUDD. 

